Brad Feld

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24 Hours In Las Vegas With My Dad

Jan 07, 2011

Last night during my two mile post dinner walk from the Hard Rock (where I had an awesome dinner at Nobu) to the Venetian (where I subsequently had a very short night of sleep), my mind wandered around about the great time I had with my dad at CES.

My dad and I have developed several annual traditions including a really delightful father-son weekend.  Our annual 24 hours (usually more like 30) together in Las Vegas every January for CES is another one.

My dad is a retired doctor.  He’s also a computer nerd – he has loved playing around with computers since I got my first Apple II computer 32 years ago.  He’s an endless tinkerer and a gadget guy – always curious and excited about the latest, greatest (or not so great, but still brand new) technology gizmo.

My Foundry Group partners and I have been coming to CES together for the past few years.  We’ve discovered new investments at CES (such as Cloud Engines – for the long version of the discovery process check out my dad’s post on it titled I Love My Popoplug!!) as well as have companies we’ve invested in be at the show such as Orbotix and Sifteo this year.  We keep it short (two nights, one day) but have a lot of fun together.  And my dad tags along.

Each of the two nights we are there we have a great dinner with a bunch of the execs in companies we’ve invested in as well as friends of Foundry Group (other VCs, some journalists, angel investors, other entrepreneurs who are friends.)  The first dinner is always somewhere fancy (this year it was at Bouchon).  The second night is sushi orgy at Nobu.

As I walked home from the sushi orgy, I kept thinking how lucky I was to completely adore my father.  With the exception of several months when I was in seventh grade (and was a complete pain in the ass), we’ve been best friends.  I have enormous respect for him, have learned a ton, and even when I get frustrated with him (as any son will), I usually end up in an semi-amused state about whatever is going on.

And – as far as I can tell, my friends and close work colleagues also love hanging out with him.  This is icing on the cake, because I know he’s having a blast with them and vice-versa.

Dad – thanks for coming to CES again this year – I love you.